Jejune St. Johns Visitor and Convention Bureau, Inc. CEO and Executive Director RICHARD GOLDMAN
(HCN)
Wrote obscenely alarmist and selfish April 2, 2015 e-mail, to wit, " urgent to contact legislators: your summer is in danger"
How can a tax-supported 501c6 expend tax monies on such trite tropes and illegitimate lobbying?
This is the same willful energumen overheard calling City Commissioners "foolish" for their unanimous January 26, 2015 vote against two 65 foot hotels.
He is a government contractor, beneficiary of a no-bid contract from rebarbative St. Johns County Commissioners.
What a lugubrious goober!
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: urgent to contact legislators: your summer is in danger
From: Richard Goldman < RGoldman@FloridasHistoricCoast.com>
Date: Thu, April 02, 2015 2:15 pm
To: Richard Goldman < RGoldman@FloridasHistoricCoast.com>
Dear Tourism Leaders,
We have an emergency issue that requires your action today. I have attached contact information to our legislators and their offices below.
Yesterday, the Florida Senate adopted the Florida House position on school start date – which would change the start date from 14-days before Labor Day to August 10. The school calendar issue was a small part of a much larger, comprehensive education accountability bill.
The Senate will meet today, April 2, and if they pass H 7069 without any changes, Florida’s tourism industry will lose an average of 11 days of our August tourism season.
TAKE ACTION NOW
Contact the Senate President, Andy Gardiner NOW and ask him to support Senator Abruzzo’s amendment 668820 , which would change the school start date to the third Monday in August. This position is a compromise between the tourism industry coalition and some in the education community, and would allow schools to start a week earlier in years when Labor Day occurs later such as in 2015. The effect of this compromise is a reduction of our August season an average of 3 days (rather than 11).
This compromise is smart for Florida’s families and businesses.
· It recognizes the value of August as a key travel month for Florida families.
· It protects the seasonal employment of educators and youth in Florida tourism market, providing world-class training, life-skills development, and career advancement opportunities in Florida’s $72 billion tourism industry.
· It largely safeguards Florida’s tourism industry which provides 25% of the state’s sales tax revenue.
· It resolves the issue of completing the first semester testing before winter break by adding a full week of student instruction in years when Labor Day is late (as it is this year).
· It grandfathers “Academically High Performing School Districts” that have already established their 2015-16 school calendars.
Third Monday in August School Start is supported by:
Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations
Florida Association of Museums
Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds
Florida Attractions Association
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
Florida Retail Federation
Please respond to the VCB with any feedback you receive from your Senator or Representative.
Additional Background Information
School Calendar Creep - Statutory Relief
In 1980, the average Florida public school student started school on August 28. By 2002, the average public school started school on August 14, with more than half of the school districts starting before August 10.
In 2006, the Florida Legislature adopted a change to Section 1001.42(4)(f), “beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, the opening date for schools in the district may not be earlier than 14 days before Labor Day each year.”
Economic Impact
August 2007 vs. August 2006
Tourism Development (Bed Tax) collections – up 23%
Attendance at Florida Attractions – up 21%
State Sales Tax Collections from Restaurants, Hotels & Attractions – up over $8 million, while total sales tax collections were down $39 million. Tourism outperformed other industries during the recession.
Other Benefits of Traditional School Calendar
· Time for family vacations
· Employment and training opportunities for youth
· Summer camp programs
Mid-terms before Christmas
The argument that school need to start more than 14-days before Labor Day in order to complete midterm exams before the winter break is false.
In the 2012-13 school term, 17 Florida school districts started 14 days (or less) before Labor Day and completed mid-terms before Christmas break: Bradford, Collier, Columbia, Escambia, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Hernando, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Pasco, Taylor, and Washington.
For St. John’s County, I would suggest contacting President Gardiner and Speaker Crisafulli.
President Gardiner
District Address: 1013 East Michigan Street
Orlando, FL
32806
Phone: (407) 428-5800
Fax:
Legislative Address: 409 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1100
Phone: (850) 487-5013
Fax:
Legislative Assistant: Gina Herron (Orlando), Kathy Johnson (Orlando), Stacy Vancamp-Garcia (Orlando)
Email: gardiner.andy@flsenate.gov
Speaker Crisafulli
District Address: Suite 108
2460 North Courtenay Parkway
Merritt Island, FL
32953-4193
Phone: (321) 449-5111
Fax:
Legislative Address: 420 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 717-5051
Fax:
Legislative Assistant: Ashley Guinn (Merritt Island)
District Secretary: Helen Franta (Merritt Island)
Email: steve.crisafulli@myfloridahouse.gov
And working your representatives, in case an amended bill comes back to the House.
Representative Hutson
District Address: Suite 5
4875 Palm Coast Parkway NW
Palm Coast, FL
32137-3671
Phone: (386) 446-7644
Fax:
Legislative Address: 1102 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 717-5024
Fax:
Legislative Assistant: Matthew Kauffmann (Palm Coast)
District Secretary: Danielle Curbow (Palm Coast), Jennifer Lubi (Palm Coast)
Email: Travis.Hutson@myfloridahouse.gov
Representative Renuart
District Address: Suite 307
814 A1A North
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
32082-3270
Phone: (904) 273-4466
Fax:
Legislative Address: 400 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 717-5017
Fax:
Legislative Assistant: John Kotyk (Ponte Vedra Beach)
District Secretary: Benjamin Brown (Ponte Vedra Beach)
Email: ronald.renuart@myfloridahouse.gov
FHC logo horiz
Richard Goldman
President & Chief Executive Officer
St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches
Visitors & Convention Bureau
office:904.829.1711
direct:904.209.4426
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